A Guide to Organic Food
Organic foods are made according to certain production standards. The use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and avoided as a last resort. However, contrary to popular belief, certain non-organic fertilisers are still used. If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic food may not be genetically modified.
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, distinct from private gardening. Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as "organic" within their borders. Most certifications allow some chemicals and pesticides to be used, so consumers should be aware of the standards for qualifying as "organic" in their respective locales.
Historically, organic farming has been carried out on relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets. However, since the early 1990s organic food production has had growth rates of around 20% a year, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations. As of April last year, organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide.
The Soil Association, which certifies over 80% of the organic food sold in the UK, gives the following advice on their whyorganic.org website about the nutritional effects of eating organic food:
Organic food is bursting with vitamins and minerals. We believe this is because of the way it is grown – with nature. Natural systems for fertilising the soil and keeping pests under control are used instead of relying on chemicals.
Organic farmers nourish the soil with all the must-have nutrients, not just those needed to make the plants grow. This gives the plants all the goodness they need so that they can give you all the goodness you need.
We make sure that after the food has left the farm, it remains as pure as possible.
This means:
• No GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
• No hydrogenated fats
• No nasty additives
• No chemical leftovers (pesticide residues have been found on more than one in three samples of non-organic food).
No food has higher amounts of beneficial minerals, essential amino acids and vitamins than organic food… so buy it!
The pros & cons of buying organic over local